Customer Stories

The best things about renovating are seeing a job well done, having created something new and special, and knowing that now someone loves their home! Have a look below at some comments from happy clients.

Testimonials from Our Clients

Jordan Auckbarally

Excellent service provide by Vaughan throughout the experience. Vaughan was very knowledgeable and kept me in the loop with regular updates as to how the job was going.

I’ve finally managed to find a good building company that provides outstanding customer service at a reasonable cost. Would highly recommend and will definitely be using them again.

Testimonials from Other Offices

Andre and Lorraine Archer

Dear Smith & Sons

My wife and I thought we would drop you a quick note to thank you for the fantastic experience we had throughout the entire process during the building of our new home in Wakefield. Right from our first visits on site to discuss positioning of the house, to designing the in-built wardrobes and during the final fit-out, nothing was ever a problem.

The value Craig brings to the project, with his years of experience, really shone through during the inital design and concept discussions – there were many examples during our build where Craig made suggestions that we would never have considered and that improved our finished home.

The quality of the entire team at Smith & Sons is testament to Craig’s ability as a tradesman, an example of that is at the time of our build all of the team had done their apprenticeships with Craig and had clearly adopted his passion for quality and customer service.

We have since moved on from that new home but have continued to use Craig and the team for many projects we have undertaken since, and no matter how big or small we have always been happy with the results. In a crowded market with many options my wife and I would not go anywhere else. If service, quality, and experience are important to you I can’t recommend the team at Smith & Sons Motueka / Golden Bay highly enough.

Lyn Jones

I wanted to cover our old concrete deck that was sinking in places and looked out of date. I decided to cover it with a timber decking so chose Smith and Sons after going onto your web site, I am glad I did. The team especially Lance were great, listening to any queries that I had and coming back with a solution in no time. The team that worked on site were always professional, but easy going and no problem to have around. Any problems that occurred where sorted out by Lance who definitely had our best interests at heart. The deck looks great now,and we love it. We have had a lot of favourable remarks from friends and people passing by who had seen the deck before the Renovations. So thanks Smith and Sons, you did a fantastic job all of you.

C & J

We were absolutely delighted with the renovation Smith and Sons did on our bathroom. From start to finish the process was seamless, the communication excellent and time line spot on. All the sub contractors were very professional and great to have in the house. We would highly recommend them.

Jennie & John

We are so thrilled with the results of our recently renovated home and can only speak highly of the Smith & Sons team who have made this possible.From concept through to design and renovate, the team have provided expert advice, construction and redecoration, making the whole process an easier and seamless undertaking for us as home owners. We sincerely thank Tiny, Katie, Dwayne, Bruce and the building & painting teams for all their hard work in making our home up to date in its exterior cladding and insulation. We love the smart new exterior and the new PVC windows…….our home is warm and dry and very comfortable and looks amazing!

Nigel Newton

Recently had our kitchen renovated by Smith & Sons Blenheim. We were looking for someone that could coordinate the whole process, full strip and reline, wiring and plumbing,cabinets and flooring. Absolutely thrilled with the finished product, design was spot on, very good to deal with, wouldnt hesitate to use them again.

Hamish & Karen

Before the renovation we were apprehensive as ever when undertaking a major project with a new company. Simon from Smith & Sons Riccarton provided us with a reassuring take on the project management and seemed genuinely enthusiastic about what we wanted to do. The new bathroom is a very enjoyable space to be in and has made much better use of the limited space available.

We would recommend Smith & Sons Riccarton to friends and family. or us it was much easier to have the project managed on our behalf, particularly the selection and co-ordination of the various trades. Simon made that process very easy and nothing was a problem.

Shane & Cheryl

We can’t thank Paul, Anna and the boys at Smith & Sons enough for making this whole move possible for us. Paul and the boys were with us every step of the way making our dreams and visions become a reality. A simple fitout in the newly constructed part of the original structure merged into something completely different in practice. We realised that there were things that worked on paper but as soon as we physically saw things we learnt that they would not work for the business in the long run. Smith & Sons Ashburton was right behind us all the way and made sure that everything we needed changed was done so to a very high standard. The input that Paul and the team gave us and suggestions for improvement in making the changes needed was invaluable and we would not have this brilliant structure to work out of today if it was not for them and their commitment to the build. It is a wonderful place to work from and we are extremely proud to have such great creators construct it and bring our vision to reality.

Deborah, Mack & Trevor Gill

Interior Renovation - Pukekohe

Smith & Sons Pukekohe did a full house renovation for us. They did a great job and it was all completed within budget.

We chose Smith & Sons because they were straight out the next day to estimate the cost of the project. We felt they were a company that cared about getting the best results for the customer. We like to support local businesses in the area.

Every tradesman that came into our home was professional, the work was to a high standard and the communication was excellent from project manager Lance Coleman. He kept us up to date on everything.

The end result is fantastic - our home is now of a modern standard. All expectations that we had at the start of the project were meet.

Lance and Lane took all the guessing and worrying out of it for us. I would highly recommend the team at Smith & Sons if you are thinking of renovating.

Scott & Jenn

We are extremely happy with the finished quality on our bathrooms and would recommend Smith & Sons for anyone requiring a well-planned and delivered project. It was great to see that the whole team took great care working around the property which had already had a lot of previous renovation work completed, so a lot of effort went into protecting new flooring and paintwork before work commenced and as we were still having to live in the property as work was carried out, the team did a great job of leaving everything clean and tidy at the end of every day enabling us to still function in the house. All the Trades people used were very friendly, helpful and made us feel as though nothing was too much trouble to get the end product the way we wanted it.

Marilyn Stewart

We chose Smith & Sons Riccarton to renovate our kitchen and bathrooms because they were the most helpful with suggestions and ideas when discussing options. During the renovation work all of the contractors were clean and tidied up at the end of each day. It was very efficient. It is so much easier now to work in the kitchen space with the new layout and there is more room in the bathrooms. We would definitely recommend Simon to our family and friends, he is easy to deal with and most helpful.

Carl & Michelle

Our project was a major extension to add a further 3 bedrooms, a study, an ensuite, a double garage, a laundry and another toilet. We needed a larger home and decided to go with Smith & Sons Franklin because of their reputation and local knowledge. The teams on site were excellent, the project and end results exceeded our expectations. We now have a much larger home which was in keeping with the style of the original dwelling.

Lesley Liu

I recently completed my renovation project with Smith & Sons Christchurch North. The team is knowledgeable and co-operative. I appreciate their patience in listening to our demands and efforts on achieving results we want. We are very happy about the finishing of this project and would highly recommend this reliable team.

Cameron Dickson

We are a family of four and wanted to update our children’s tired looking bathroom. We chose Smith and Sons as we found the approach of them doing everything suited us best. From design ideas through to completion. Tiny, Katie, Josh and the rest of the team were great, they communicated with us clearly so we always had some idea as to what was happening. When we needed to change things, it was not a major drama. We would definitely use them again.

The Eteveneaux family

We would like to thank you so very much for the professional approach and execution of our recent renovation. Right through from start to finish you have kept us up to date with what was happening next which we really appreciated.

We really don't know ourselves with the additional space and are so pleased with the end result.

The building crew were really professional, highly skilled and respected our privacy which was so important to us. We would totally recommend you to anyone looking to renovate their home.

Bronwyn

I had used Smith & Sons before for my en-suite and wanted them to come and renovate my main bathroom to match in with what I had in the en-suite. I found Katie and the team at Smith and sons Christchurch South easy to deal with, always happy to answer any questions I had, and the bathroom was done in the time frame Katie said it would happen in. I am really happy with the final result. I would be happy to recommend Katie and the team at Smith & Sons to anyone who is looking to renovate.

Alex Chiang

We engaged Smith and Sons to carry out extensions to our House in Whitford. It is for our parents to live with us. The job proceeded in a professional and friendly manner. They were able to offer suggestions and was easy to communicate with.

They carried out the job to a very high standard, the sub-contractors that he recommended and engaged to carry out the work also produced a high standard of work. As we were living in the house at the time the site was always kept tidy and livable. The project manager kept in constant contact with us and was always looking at ways of saving us money. The work carried out by the sub-contractors was well co-ordinated and any issues were discussed with us straight away. The contract ended up coming well around budget.

We would recommend Smith and Sons for any building work or alterations and would not hesitate if in the future we required to carry out further building work to engage Smith and Sons.

Pam & Tom Miller

Thank you Ryan (Smith & Sons Marlborough Sounds) for transforming our shower room. We are grateful for you building skillsand problem solving ability which have given us a room that exceeds our expectations.

Toni

As the owners, we are so happy with our renovation, Smith & Sons were awesome to deal with. Everyone is so professional and friendly. It was done within the timeframes for the price. Any problems (and they were only minor) got dealt with quickly. Would absolutely without reservation recommend.

Derry Family

We are so pleased that we chose Port Hill Builders for our renovation work. Anthony and his team did an excellent job in managing all elements of the substantial renovation to our home and we happily recommend them to others. Renovating can be a very daunting prospect, but when we met with Anthony and went through the process, it was clear that our needs could be met, within budget and in accordance with our architectural plans. From our first meeting, throughout the build and right up to the issuing of the Code of Compliance, Anthony and his team listened to our requests, understood our budget, guided us through the technical parts and provided us with all the information so that we could make the best choices for us. The whole team were extremely professional to deal with; prompt, courteous and reliable – I’m not sure you can ask for much more. When we embarked on this project, it was difficult to know where to start, but I would suggest you contact Anthony first. He has great vision and can provide you with some realistic advice and ideas based on the space you have, your budget and the level of finish you are wanting. This advice is extremely reassuring to have so that you can then approach an Architect with a good idea of what to ask for. We are delighted with the outcome and we now have a family home we can grow in and be very proud of. The Derry Family Governors Bay

Victor Tan

We have found Anthony Bown (Smith & Sons Port Hills) patient and helpful, always providing much needed advise, solutions and assurances. As it was our first built experience and on a difficult site, we were glad to be able to utilize Anthony's skills and experience. We felt looked after by Anthony and his team.

B.S.

As a newcomer to New Zealand, I purchased a small town house which was built in the early 1990s knowing that it would need some modernising. Paul Cartney from Smith and Sons who is also a master builder was recommended to me, so we met to discuss the project.

A pleasant man, easy to get on with and obviously knowledgeable about the building industry. He took on the job and finished on time and budget.

I am delighted with all the work that Paul and his boys carried out on my house. I have a very comfortable home now. I would strongly recommend Mr Paul Cartney and his team for all building work.

Vicki Ferginson

Many thanks for the amazing job your men did – it was a pleasure to have them around the house, it was all a bit quiet once they left! I’m looking forward to getting some furniture to put on the deck, although it is being well used without any!

The Russells, Wairau Valley

Thank you for helping us fix up our home after it was flooded. We really appreciated the effort you put in to doing the job promptly and well. It meant we could get back to using downstairs fairly quickly, and we're very grateful for that. Needless to say we will be recommending you to others. Many thanks.

Peter & Susan

We asked Lane to help us design and build our new house and we just love it. Lane has a great eye for design and came up with ideas that we hadn’t thought of when we were trying to put our plan down on paper. The end result is fabulous and we are so happy to be living here. The builders did an excellent job, the workmanship is great and they were very accommodating about explaining things to us along the way. Also Lane’s quote was very accurate and everything came in on budget. Well done guys, thank you very much.

Colleen

They were absolutely brilliant, I knew what I wanted, and if I insisted on a feature, then they made it happen. There were some tricky design features...Cartney Construction (now t/a Smith & Sons) completed any alterations to the plans to perfection. I couldn’t have asked for a better combination.

Steve Lamont

We are absolutely delighted with the renovation Smith & Sons Franklin completed for us at 273 Clarks Beach Road. The complete team provided expert advice and carried out the job to a high standard. They were excellent with communication and very professional including all subcontractors onsite. We wouldn't hesitate to use them again and would absolutely recommend them.

Tessa Curach

Thank you Smith & Sons for completing my renovation. We are very happy with the result. I was glad for Lance the project manager to manage the job for me which consisted of: 1 x main bathroom, 1 x toilet, 1 x hallway floor, 1 x ensuite bathroom.

Smith & Sons submitted the best price to get this done. The main part of it was completed in 5 weeks which was sooner than I was expecting.

The result is excellent. We really love our new bathrooms! Yes I would recommend Smith & Sons for bathroom renovations. I also recommend the St Michel products.’’

Richard & Cindy Knights

John and the build team were professional, clearly outlined every step of the build so that during the process we were fully informed of what would be happening, when, how and by whom. Because of the excellence of John’s project management, there were few problems and those few were resolved quickly and efficiently. It wasn’t necessary to reinvent the wheel to get what we wanted, we just had to get Smith & Sons to realise our vision. Smith & Sons restored our faith in the building industry and we unreservedly endorse them and their work.

Christeen

When we were looking to do our renovations, we obtained four quotes. We went with Smith & Sons Franklin as we were very impressed with their quote. It was very thorough and professional, they cover all aspects of the build and they answered all our queries regarding the quote in detail and left no room for confusion.

The build ran very smoothly and we were very impressed with the workmanship of all the tradesmen they used and how helpful they were, no query seemed a problem to answer. Like you expect with any build there were a few hiccups along the way but Lance always kept us fully informed and handled everything efficiently.

We are extremely happy with the finished renovation, it has exceeded our expectations and without hesitation we would recommend Smith & Sons Franklin to Family and Friends.

Bill McSherry - Whangapoua

We built our beach home on Whangapoua beach 18 years ago and recently decided to add on a Boathouse to cope with our expanding family needs.

We had our plans drawn and proceeded to ask for the usual 3 estimates off the plans. It was very obvious from the start that Smith and Sons - Coromandel add by far the most value. Richard was awarded the contract and we found his communication and weekly updates great.

The project had a few minor changes along the way and Richard and his team just took this in their stride. The project came in on budget and the quality of the workmanship in all areas has been excellent.

I know Richard will be successful with his business because he really cares about the project from the client perspective.

Kerry & Jackie Satherley

We recently decided to extend our home and wanted to ensure it was exactly what we envisioned. A family member recommended Paal and his team at Smith & Sons. We were instantly impressed with Paal’s professionalism and knowledge, as well as his recommendations from a builder's perspective. We found him very friendly and approachable and he always made us feel like nothing was a problem. He and his team completed the job to a very high standard, they were polite and kept the area tidy. We would have no hesitation in working with Paal again, and would recommend Smith & Sons to anyone looking for a quality builder.

Barbara & Peter

The building crew were just fantastic – hardworking, a lot of fun to have around, and they have given us our dream kitchen and living space. The major work was getting the roofline worked into the existing roof structure, but it all went without a hitch.

Wendy and Carl

We approached Paul & Anna in January 2010 to renovate our ‘new home to be’ if we were successful in purchasing the farm. The renovation stage 1 would be needed to be started beginning of April and completed in 5 weeks and stage 2 was to be started and completed as soon as possible thereafter. The answer was yes they would make it possible even with this short notice.
The workmanship of Paul and his two builders was as good as we could have expected. The reliability and help we had along the way was great. The team were well organised and kept us informed 100% along the way. We would recommend this team to anyone wishing to renovate or build a new home no matter how big or small. If we were to build or renovate ourselves again we would choose Paul and his team without a doubt. Good luck to Paul and his team for his business going forward.

Bathroom Renovation, Linton St

I highly recommend Smith & Sons Manawatu. I will be using them again for any building projects, especially if it has to look good. As a ‘do it yourself’ bloke, I had my doubts about using professionals but the results are far better than I could have achieved. Best of all, it was all done within budget and completed on time -- the quick completion was a MUST for the main bathroom, but would also be true for kitchens, as each day costs more in takeout food.

As there weren't many builders reviews available in late 2014, we decided to go with Smith & Sons because we felt we could trust them.

Firstly, they are a professional service with good project management. Secondly, they had good ideas - practical solutions to getting the finished bathroom we wanted. This really showed in their knowledge of current products and experience with similar jobs.

They didn’t have to lowest quote, but it was fully itemised, easy to understand, and they had a great relationship with the subcontractors.

In the end, the final cost was LESS than the quote for two reasons: we didn’t change our minds on any major, and there wasn’t as much re-building as initially thought (you couldn't tell until the demolition was finished). Most importantly, everything was finished and tidy when they left -- no little follow-up jobs or call backs required.

Robin & Kath Le Comte

As home owners we look to accomplish tasks that add extra quality and function to our family home.

Having worked with Paal Iversen previously, it was natural we returned to him. My wife and I have found Paal approachable, receptive (to ideas and changes) and also very good at advancing concepts for us to consider.

Having experienced shortfalls with another building contractor, especially in the small order job, I found that Paal was eager to assist and help accomplish what we wanted. His crew were exceptional, polite and keen to assist in delivering a quality end job.

I would certainly use them again knowing that they will look at the task at hand, discuss the project, provide a cost effective quote and then deliver a quality end product. We have already recommended that my son use Smith & Sons services without considering anyone else.

Anatole & Astrid

`We chose Smith & Sons because right from the start they listened to what we wanted and went out of their way to accommodate our requirements. Their detailed and transparent cost breakdown gave us confidence that we could manage the budget. During the build, they made every effort to enable us to stay in our house in spite of the extensive renovations. There are always unexpected issues that arise in the course of a renovation. Any issues were handled with patience and a real willingness to resolve the problems to our satisfaction. Their openness, easy communication and `can do` attitude continued through from start to finish. Most of all we appreciated that they completed the work in a tight timeframe and pulled out all the stops to meet our deadline, which ment that we enjoyed the best Christmas ever with family visitors from overseas in our beartifully renovated and extended home. We couldn`t be more delighted with the result and have already warmly recommended Smith & Sons to our friends.: